Larry Phillip Bennett

Larry Bennett, 79, of Priest River, ID, went to be with his Heavenly Father on August 24, 2026, after his fight with cancer and other health problems. Larry was born June 4, 1947, in Oak Creek, CO, where he attended school and graduated in 1965.

As a teen, he had the Denver Post paper route and delivered groceries for Stetson's Mercantile. After graduation, he worked at Hageman's Garage, Keystone Coal Mine, and Edna Coal Mine in Oak Creek, and for Irwin Hassig and Eddie Farrington of Yampa.

On Feb. 6, 1966, Larry married Cynthia Hassig of Yampa, CO. While they were married, he served in the US Army during the Vietnam War. They were together for 5½ years.

On July 6, 1973, he married Mary Lou Pieper Scheetz and became a stepdad to her 3 daughters. The family lived in Craig, CO, where Larry built a beautiful new home and shop. They parted ways in April of 1977.

Larry sold the Craig place and purchased 20 acres of timberland north of Priest River, ID, where he lived for nearly 50 years until his death. A jack-of-all-trades, he had an inventive and mechanical mind that served him well in the isolated woods of Idaho.

He owned and operated a Trailer Court in Old Town, WA, worked at the cement plant building septic tanks, was a carpenter, and operated his compact utility equipment, plowing snow, helping new neighbors develop their acreages, and old neighbors improve theirs. In his early years, he went beyond the call of duty, improving and maintaining the roads on his mountain.

During the last 7 years of his life, home was in his camper van. He traveled endlessly through Idaho, Montana, Washington, Wyoming, and northern Colorado, visiting his sister Linda in Loveland, CO, before heading back north. His home away from home was the 7 Seeds Coffee Shop in Libby, Montana, and Rob & Sandi's Guest House in Deer Park, WA, where he was welcomed like family.

A lifelong believer, he loved sharing his faith with those around him and with strangers he met in churches, National Parks, and across Forest and BLM land as he traveled and camped. When he returned to an area, he often revisited the same churches, greeting familiar faces along the way.

He is survived by two sisters, Norma Jean Bennett Teare and her husband of 61 years, Bruce, of Rogersville, TN, and Linda K. Bennett/Herold/Henderson of Loveland, CO.

He was preceded in death by his father, Guy L. Bennett, a lifelong coal miner; two half-brothers and their wives; Bill Bennett (Betty) and Conrad Bennett (Lucille); and 3 half-sisters and their husbands; Modine Bennett McLimore(Bill ), Martelle Bennett Brant (Garnet), and Mary Ruth Bennett Chinn ( Bill ).

Also preceding him in death were his mother, Wanda O. Shields/Dull/Bennett, and two half-sisters and their husbands, Betty Dull Clevenger (Ralph Jr.) and Joylyn Dull New (Gene).

With so many brothers and sisters in the family, Larry leaves behind generations of nieces, nephews, and cousins. He will be remembered by friends, church brothers and sisters, and longtime neighbors from throughout his life.

Viegut Funeral Home in Loveland, CO will handle the cremation. No service will be held at this time.

"In Memory of” donations may be made to..

Historical Society of Oak Creek & Phippsburg | Give | ColoradoGives.org

The mailing address for check donations is:

Historical Society of Oak Creek & Phippsburg

PO Box 1 Oak Creek, CO 80467